CBD info

What is CBD?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a natural cannabinoid contained in the plants of the cannabis family. Both hemp and marijuana belong to this same cannabis plant family, but they are two distinct plants (technically, not taxonomically) with different CBD content.

Marijuana contains both CBD and quite a bit of THC. THC is an illegal substance in most states and countries as it causes an addictive high and has a potent psychoactive effect.

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a natural cannabinoid contained in the plants of the cannabis family. Both hemp and marijuana belong to this same cannabis plant family, but they are two distinct plants (technically, not taxonomically) with different CBD content.

Marijuana contains both CBD and quite a bit of THC. THC is an illegal substance in most states and countries as it causes an addictive high and has a potent psychoactive effect.

Industrial hemp, on the other hand, contains very little THC and a lot more CBD.

Patients who want the combined effects of THC and CBD to medicate their symptoms prefer high-CBD marijuana strains, while patients who want to medicate only with the non-psychoactive CBD prefer high-CBD hemp oil.

CBD is most predominant inside the resin glands (trichomes) of the female cannabis plant, CBD is one of over 80 chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are agonists that bind to special receptors on your cells, called cannabinoid receptors.

Certain receptors are heavily concentrated in the central nervous system while others are found in almost every organ of the body. Cannabinoid receptors are even found in the skin, digestive tract, and even in the reproductive organs.

You can think of agonists as keys and cannabinoid receptors as locks. By consuming cannabis, you are taking in agonists that interact with different locks on cells in the body. Together, these cell receptors make up a larger endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The ECS is a vast network of cell receptor proteins with many functions. Some describe the ECS as the greatest neurotransmitter system in the body. It lends a hand in seemingly just about everything, including:

mood

memory

motor control

immune function

reproduction

pain perception

appetite

sleep

bone development

Four primary purposes of the ECS include neuroprotection, stress recovery, immune balance, and homeostatic regulation. The last one is a fancy way of referring to a system that creates optimum energy balance in the body

Somehow, CBD seems to tap into this balancing system to produce its therapeutic effects. CBD is able to interact with cells in our bodies because the molecule has a similar composition to similar chemicals that the human body produces naturally, called endocannabinoids.

Endo means inside and cannabinoid refers to action on cannabinoid receptors. In contrast, the cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are technically called phytocannabinoids.

CBD vs. THC

THC is psychoactive while CBD is not. While both compounds are cannabinoids, they each interact with the body in different ways. THC directly engages the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), which is concentrated largely in the central nervous system.

CBD, however, doesn’t engage CB1 in the same way. As explained by neurologist and medical researcher Dr. Ethan Russo in an interview with Project CBD:

[CBD] doesn’t tend to bind directly to what’s called the orthosteric site [on cannabinoid receptors] where THC binds. Rather, it binds on what’s called an allosteric site, another site on the receptor, and so it alters the binding of both THC and the endogenous cannabinoids, the endocannabinoids.

So, what’s the verdict in a THC vs. CBD mashup? CBD and THC both connect on receptors in different locations. While THC directly engages the cannabinoid through the orthosteric site, CBD seems to regulate or fine tune that interaction by connecting to a separate receptor location.

This fact is perhaps what enables CBD to modulate the psychoactivity of THC. Simply stated, if you’re feeling a little anxious after some cannabis, it could mean too much THC and not enough CBD. Evidence suggests that CBD reduces the psychoactive high from THC.

5 Main CBD Effects

Studies on CBD are quite recent, but there is enough evidence to support that CBD can…

Reduce Nausea (helps people undergoing chemotherapy)

Improve Appetite

Relieve Pain

Reduce Inflammation

Reduce Stress and Anxiety

There is also a lot of research currently done on the effects of CBD on cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and asthma, but so far, results have not been conclusive. Anti-cancer effects of CBD were seen in mice whose tumors were injected with the substance.

How to use CBD?

CBD is extracted from marijuana plants as either an oil or powder. These can be mixed into creams or gels. They can be put into capsules and taken orally, or rubbed on your skin. The multiple sclerosis drug nabiximols is sprayed as a liquid into your mouth.

How Much CBD Do You Need?

Depending on your ailment, you’ll need a different cannabidiol dosage depending on your symptoms. Also, each body reacts differently to CBD. Some people are extremely sensitive and need very little while, in rare cases, some don’t feel effects even with powerful dosages. Each person is unique, and you need to find your own sweet spot.

Still, there are some average numbers that can help you determine how much CBD you might want to start with.

Doses are best measured as pure mg of CBD, because each bottle has a different concentration.

It is safest to always start really low (2-3 mgs) and work yourself up to the recommended dosage. As soon as your symptoms are gone, you need to stop increasing the dose; if your symptoms worsen, discontinue use or lower your dose.

And as usual, if you have a serious health issue, we urge you to see your Doctor in order to get recommendations from them.

The cannabidiol in all CBD CLINIC formulations is called Charlotte's Web®,
The Worlds Most Trusted Hemp Extract™. Charlotte's Web defined the CBD category after it was featured on 3 CNN documentaries and many other national and global media outlets due to the miraculous impact it had on little Charlotte Figi's life. By growing their proprietary hemp genetics on US family farms and producing in an FDA registered facility in Boulder, Colorado under 3rd party certified Good Manufacturing Practices, the Stanley Brothers family ensures that quality and reliable consistency make Charlotte's Web the most premium CBD available in the marketplace.
CBD CLINIC has an exclusive partnership to produce and distribute topical medications with Charlotte's Web CBD.